Only 4 things Needed to make the Xbox 720 a Success

The Wii U has released, the PS4 had announced, the only thing left is the Xbox 720. With the success of the Xbox 360 there’s really only 4 things needed to make the Xbox 720 a success.
(Microsoft, Xbox 360, Xbox One)

1. Ability to Play Used Games - Maybe, but people still buy new console to play next gen games, not last.

2. Upgradable Console - never going to work. Game are all ported to same console. If console is upgradable, then it would be stupid, some people have more powerful console than others. How those games are going to work then? It´s only possible on PC, not consoles.

3. No Social Media Shenanigans - WHAT?

4. New IP’s (Developer Support) - It need alot games too, not only new IPs.

Fail article... nothing about online, nothing about games, nothing about power, nothing about price... Just block social media, make console upgradable and then win console war? Sorry, but this is just stupid.

@-Superman- "2. Upgradable Console - never going to work. Game are all ported to same console. If console is upgradable, then it would be stupid, some people have more powerful console than others. How those games are going to work then? It´s only possible on PC, not consoles."

So you are saying its not possible to have developers develop a game with two tiers in mind? It may be slight bit longer of development time, but I have to image the game could do a hardware check and increase the graphics quality if possible.

I dont have an opinion whether they should or shouldnt. Frankly I dont care, I just wanted to point out that it could be done, its not impossible as you said.

This isn't a PS4 vs Nextbox article, so let's try not to start a war in the comments, eh?

Anyway, points 1 and 4 are right on the money, imo, but I disagree with 2 and 3. An upgradable console would result in a fragmented market. Devs would be forced to choose between using the extra power or catering to a larger audience. Wanna guess which choice they'd make? Besides, PC tech improvements have actually been slowing recently, so the whole point is moot.

As for point 3, social media is a big deal these days. The ability to easily share my gaming experiences with friends and family can only be a good thing. It's not like you HAVE to use the function, if you don't want to.

"An upgradable console would result in a fragmented market. Devs would be forced to choose between using the extra power or catering to a larger audience."

I dont understand why people think its impossible for a game to check the hardware in the system and adjust accordingly. Its not as if they would have to chose one or the other. Its not as if PC developers have to make a game strictly for one piece of hardware. Most are adjustable, so why not a console game?

@MarkusMcNugen, plain and simple , IT WON'T WORK. The N64 tried it back in the 90's with the upgradable RAM cartridge, and guess what... It didn't work. Here's the reason why...

People couldn't just buy the console and play every single game that would come out on it. A LOT of games would REQUIRE the RAM upgrade, forcing the consumer to buy an extra component for their console, otherwise, they couldn't play the game.

Now, I know we've made a lot of advancements in technology so this wouldn't play out the same way with future consoles, but regardless, it will STILL fragment the market. Consoles are meant to be easy to use; just plug in and play. If we start adding in complicated features like "upgradable parts", then why even bother with consoles and not just go with PC? And face it, a few exclusive titles, even if they're some of the greatest games ever, won't get the casual market consumer to decide which console to get unless it's a familiar game like Uncharted, Halo, or Call of Duty, and while yes, these games will surely be around next gen, tons of new IP's are going to be enter the race too, which will make decision making a lot harder, ESPECIALLY on the casual consumer. Why add in more features that could turn off potential customers?

So assuming the next Xbox has these fours things it'll be a success? What about if its price point starts at $1000? Or it has new IPs but drops Halo, Gears and Forza? It allows used games but doubles the price of Xbox live?

These things are never going to happen, but my point is it takes a multitude of things to come together to be a success, not just four features.

1. M$ has a lot of studios, and they've already opened up a couple more. Time travel wont be necessary. :)

2. M$ hasn't made any official comments on blocking used games, have they? SO, technically, they could just ignore the whole thing. Of course, if they DO block them, then that's it. The console's dead.

3. I agree.

4. I hate to say it, but Kinect is here to stay. I am hoping that they somehow manage to find a hardcore usage for it, though. Crossing my fingers for Crytek's game.

5. PGR is M$? Did they even bother releasing any games in that series for the 360?

1. Name a few that where opened up for core games other then Black Tusk studios and someone might care. I know of the studios MS have opened up.....they are ONLY Kinect studios. Find one some and maybe I'll believe you LOL!

2.At this point they don't need to, the same people who are telling use about 720, told us about PS4 and Wii U and where they wrong?

3.LOL, now both of us know thats going to happen

4.Kinect is for casual, MS will try to force it down our throats like usual.

5.PGR is MS, I say this because it makes sense to launch with a arcade racer because it has MASS appeal vs a sim racer. I mean I love GT but really, GT is not a game for everone, neither is Forza, but more people can pick up and play Motorstorm, PGR, Driveclub etc

And they didn't because of what was said in 1. They don't own Bizarre Creations anymore, I'm hoping Turn 10 is working on a PGR for 720 cause they are the only team that could pull it off at MS right now.

It's not about the specs, price, apps etc. The thing with Microsoft right now is that for many people it's a trust issue as far as their consoles go.

With both (xbox&360) people were left hanging, especially late adopters! WIth the first one they stopped supporting it once they started working on 360 and they almost abandonded 360 when they started working with Kinect! They don't seem committed to their products. Furthermore it's this lack of respect that is also shown towards talented developers and great ips. They could easily have a great exclusive catalogue but they just focus on Kinect shovelware and Wii-like gimmicks. I expect them to continue this "trend" with the "720" as well...sadly.

All in all it's their own business mentality that will probably alienate people (gamers) in the end. Because like Nintendo learns the hard way with the WiiU, gimmicks can only get you this far...

I'm surprised that the person doesn't like the social aspect of the PS4, how can anyone not like social media features? The PS3 gets a lot of criticism because the social aspect of PSN isn't unified like Xbox Live, now that it's more social than the current Xbox Live, unified social features is a bad thing.

I love Sony's business model, but liked Xbox Live's unified social experience. Now I can get both on one platform free of charge and then some.

The other thing that I think defeats the purpose of a console is that the specs are unified, otherwise it becomes more like a computer defeating the purpose. If a console becomes upgradable then developers will have to compensate for different specs, with low, medium, and high settings. I play on consoles because I know my device will play at the best possible settings, if it's upgradable, I'd rather get a computer instead.

We all know realistically the nextbox is already a success. With ms proving it with the 360's success and with the money ms has they will be around for however long ms feels the gaming market is a success for them. No matter how negative the media has been towards the nextbox we all know ms will be around for a long time. Sony & Nintendo has proven this even though they dont have the kind of money ms has so I dont see ms going anywhere despite all the negativity towards its nextbox.

The Xbox flopped...the 360 was a success because it launched first...even then Sony caught up with flying colors, now they are nearly dead even in worldwide sales. Sony is putting a lot on the table...it's very possible that the 720 might not deliver.

Flopped... by no means was it a flop. It sold 3 times as many as their last generation which is huge and even if you're going to be extremely liberal with new console purchases from RRoD they would had sold at least twice as many as original Xbox. 2-3x growth is huge and just can't be denied no matter the reasons behind it.

I'm sure they probably wouldn't had sold quite as many 360s if PS3 went first but the difference would be much smaller than you'd probably expect.

That said, it doesn't really prove the next one will be near as successful this time around although I hope for the best as just good for the industry. Monopolies end up causing more problems then they fix so competition is actually a good thing in the long run. I still think it should do reasonably well as long as MS doesn't make too many mistakes but if both consoles release close together Xbox might have a bit more trouble compared to last time around as you can't deny a years head start never hurts.

Ppl need to wake up, yes I maybe one of the few who are disappointed with ms but at the same time us here on n4g dont speak for the world. The truth is no matter how bad its looking for ms on the internet, your average consumer who doesnt know anything about these things online will buy the nextbox or ps4 or wii u. They buy whatever they think is attractive to them. They are the consumers u catch with advertisements which is ms is strength. Its just reality.

Talking about reality, that I want a game system like the Playstation 2/3/4, and even if MS sells 6251% more KinectBoxes, it doesn't change that fact... This is what ppl don't understand, its not about who sells more because thats a office game, i don't like office games i like Video Games.

Sony if they stick to their guns will always have their market, my market. Microsoft is trying to build their own, and i wish them success.

I'm sorry but the Nextbox will need sometime of Recording/Streaming function.. just because you may not use it doesn't mean others don't. There is literally millions of gamers who love the YouTube scene and want to be able to share their game experience online with people, but do not feel the need to drop hundreds of dollars on a standalone device that merely records. Microsoft needs match up with the features Sony has for PS4.

Out of everything Sony has said about the ps4, that feature is what got me pumped. I would love that on the next xbox. I have some amazing halo kills I wish I can show with ease to a few gaming forums that I visit.

ram, sham.......4gb ddr3 would be fine, but go with 10 just because its cheap as hell and all the misinformed console only gamers think ram matters so much....lol...it really doesnt.....4-10 gb ram....pretty much no difference in performance or graphical capabilities

ram come in dead LAST in terms of system capabilities between gpu, cpu and ram.....DEAD LAST!

Ipad CPU?? are you an idiot?? Recheck your sources and link me the site. Yeah as if Ipad 4 has next gen specs capable of running unreal engine 4 regardless of GPU. Sorry buddy but you cannot downplay PS4

You realize the freaking PS Vita has a better CPU than the freaking iPad 4 and iPhone, it's GPU is actually more powerful than the iPhone 5's though but about the same as the newer iPad 4..

PS Vita processor is actually faster than both, it is a an A9 quad core that maxes at 2 Ghz. The iPhone 5 and iPad 4 are still running A6 dual cores, the iPhone 5 only maxes at 1.3 GHz and the iPad 4 at 1.4 Ghz.

You think if the PS Vita already beats both the iPhone 5 and the iPad 4, Sony would make the PS4 weaker than the PS Vita? How stupid does that sound..?

Apple screwed themselves because Samsung makes those processors for their phones, which many people don't know. You noticed though ever since Apple tried to sue Samsung for the shape of their phones, every device they make is still stuck with their outdated Samsung processors the A6.. the A6 is so old.

... but Taguito you seriously never cease to amaze me with the level of stupidity you seem to easily achieve. You don't believe me the specifications are all out there, you are just making yourself look like a jack ass.

Since you aren't smart enough to think on your own, know the devices you praise or even use the internet to learn about them, here, I will post it all for you.

Pretty obvious the PS Vita is sporting better hardware, you would literally have to be deranged to think the PS4 will be weaker than the Vita.. The PS4 already blows any iPhone and iPad out of the water.

You also don't know shit about computing because RAM is always very important but I guess you wouldn't know that because you are dumb as all hell.

Even developers have stated more RAM = better games, I know this on PC because some games require mad amounts of RAM and if you think 4GB is enough for every game, that is just stupid. 4GB will get eaten up easily with more intensive customizable games.

I have used 8GB of RAM on PC easily, all of it, not even bragging just need to get your facts together is all Taquito..

What a dumb list. A big share , Facebook like button? What. U mean the little optional actually pretty awesome share button. That is nothing at all like Facebook. The share button is not social media. It's directly tied to video games.

And if the Durango/720 is so great, then why have Microsoft not presented it yet. Why were they absent from GDC. Looks to me that MS underestimated Sony. Only time will tell, but the silence from MS speak volumes IMO

Women make up a key demographic in gaming. They're a large part of the market yet the industry still goes with stereotypes that have evolved from a male dominated industry. I know a few girl gamers and they're not looking for Zumba fitness or Just Dance, they're looking for core gaming experiences.

Being open to the changing demographic in gaming is not a negative. Its not sacrificing core gaming for casual and its not something to be afraid of. Games like Tomb Raider and Assassins Creed Liberation didnt suffer for having female leads did they? Yet how come we dont see more female lead characters in gaming? Show me a console FPS game that allows you to play as a female character in multiplayer. We're stuck in these stereotypesfrom an age gone by but the market has shifted and theres nothing wrong with moving to meet that market.

Be more open, assuming catering for female gamers means more casual games is narrow minded and out of touch.

yah, im realy affraid my wife is gonna quit her job just to play games on next box, Teo, to me youre no more than 12, and if i was you, id be more concerned about your Entertainment provider´s pricing Policy than MS silence, cause you have a big hole to fill

I think this time around Nextxbox will have a superior hardware ... (and has a clear advantage to bring better and more AAA quality games as her competitors have already showed their consoles) Sony rushed to develop and announce her console and PS4 as many people said its not a beast machine analogous to PS3 when it came out....i wonder what life expectancy Sony gives to her new console.(probably a lot smaller than PS3.. as PS4's graphics are already outdated in comparison with a PC)....

Im creating a new console called the awesomeplaybox1983. It has these four great features that mean it will be a success:

1. Games - lots and lots of games 2. Cheap - it'll only cost tuppence ha' penny to buy. 3. Loads of features - you can facebook that retweet of that picture you captured while skpying with you aunti Mabel. 4. Amazing peripherals which mean you can control games using motion control, voice control and telekenesis.